Spooled film developer box



Nov. 27, 1951 2,576,493

HELMUTH VON STWOLINSKI, RECTE MULLER-STVVOLINSKI SPOOLED FILM DEVELOPER BOX Filed Feb, 17, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M/VE/VTQR HELMUTH V0 STWUL/NSAA RECTE MULiEIF-STHOLIN$KI @MMM Nov. 27, 1951 2,576,493 HELMUTH VON STWOLINSKI, RECTE MULLER-STWOLINSKI SPOOLED FILM DEVELOPER BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1948 Nov. 27, 1951 2,576,493

HELMUTH VON STWOLiNSKl, RECTE MULLER-S'TWOLJNSKI SPOOLED FILM DEVELOPER BOX Filed Feb. 17, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I I 1 4/? II I Y N II II I f 7 xaf 14 I 18 E m 1| 1 1 min I l/VVE/W'OR HfLMl/T/l VON swam/M4 ear: wmwrrvau/vsu Patented Nov. 27, 1951 SPOOLED FILM DEVELOPER BOX Helmuth von s twolinski, recte Miiller-Stwolinski, Salzburg-Maxglan, Austria Application February 17, 1948, Serial No. 8,965

' In Austria November 25, 1946 Section 1, .Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 25, 1966 The invention relates to a spooled film developer box in which the film coiled on a developer spool is kept in motion from outside by rotating said spool, and serves the purpose to treat several films at the same time. This invention represents an improvement over known 'film developing apparatus in which several flanged film spools are horizontally mounted in a light-proof box and are only partially immersed in the developing or fixing bath, in consequence of which they must be maintained in constant rotation by means of a drive common to all spools. Such developers, therefore, require a motor drive and a developing box of suificient length to receive several spools in successive axial arrangement.

My invention is based on the fact that a number of flanged film spools are vertically mounted alongside each other and are adapted to rotate in thebottom and in the cover of a developing box. The spools, which are individually removable, are arranged closely adjacent each other in a circle and are adapted to be fully immersed in the developing bath. The inner-wall surface of the box encloses the spool flanges over a substantial portion of their periphery and thus limits the internal cross-section of the box almost to the total surface space of the flanges of all spools standing in the developing box. The spools are provided with gear engaging means which mesh with a centrally arranged intermediate gear wheel'and which can be driven through a turning button arranged externally at the box cover and passing through the cover thereby rotating all of the film spools simultaneously.

'The advantages of my new film-developing "unit reside chiefly in that the film spools may be immersed completely in the developing bath and therefore do not require a drive constantly maintaining them in rotation, in that the film spools stand in the box individually removable, thereby making possible the simultaneous yet individual treatment of films of different light sensitivity and developing time, and in that the upright arrangement of the spools makes possible the adaptation of the structural height of the developing box to the standard motion picture film widths whereby a substantial saving in bath liquid is achieved; Owing to the fact that in my new film developing box the film spools themselves present the toothing necessary for their rotation, the spool shafts which protrude to the outside inv the boxes of known design are eliminated andthe drive part remaining in the box is reduced-to the intermediate gear wheel which 4 Claims. (Cl. 95-905) 2 couples the spool gear wheels with each other. This design of the drive of the spool is possible only because it is required only for the brief rotation of the film spools, completely immersed in the developing bath, at fairly long intervals of time.

The drawing illustrates, by way of example, several modes of execution of the developer boxes designed according to the invention, the

Figs. 1 and 2 being a perspective view of and a central-section through an embodiment for three developer spools with the drive arranged in the center,

Fig. 3 is a partial section through a modified kind of the drive,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified design of the casing,

Fig. 5 is a part-section through a modified bearing arrangement of the developer spools for ulterior insertion, whereas the Figs. 6 and 7 are a central-section and a plan of a modified embodiment having three developer spools and an eccentrically arranged drive.

According to the mode of execution shown in the Figs. 1 and 2 the box I e. g. made from plastic masses or drawn metal sheets has outwardly, in cross-section, the shape of an equilateral triangle with rounded-01f corners. For reducing the quantity of developer liquid required the inner wall snugly nestles to the developer spools so that the inner space has the shape of a trefoil leaf. Made into one with the bottom of the box I, by casting, pressing or jet-casting, there are three stub axles 2 for the developer spools and a fourth stub axle 3, of a smaller diameter, for the drive. The cover 4 is made in a similar manner as the casing and is so joined to the box I as to prevent the light from penetrating into same. Each stub axle 2 carries a developer spool 5 for the film to be treated, said spool consisting of a perforated core 6, and an upper and a lower flange I and 8, the outer part of the latter being machined into a toothed wheel 9. To the stub axle 3 a driving shaft I0, provided with a bored bearing, is joined which, at its bottom end, carries a driver pinion II meshing with the toothed wheels 9, whilst, at its top end, same is-provided with a diametrical groove. The knurled turning button I3, for driving the spool, is journaled in the cover 4, and the bottom end of its bearing stub axle is provided with a diametrical rib I4 engaging the groove I2.

For use the cover 4 is removed from the box I, and the spools are taken out, whereupon the films to be developed are spooled on same in the dark. Then the box is filled with the developer liquid, and the spools are reinserted into same, whereby the toothed wheels arranged on said spools are made to engage the driving pinion. Then the cover 4 is put on again, and the turning button is reinserted whereby the rib M of the latter engages the groovel2 of the driving shaft i0, thus coupling said shaft to the turning button. Then, as usual during the first minute of the development, the turning button I3 is ro-- tated, whereby all spools contained in the box are put into rotation at the same time As the diameter of the driving pinion II is superior to that of the toothed wheels 9 one complete 18V01l1-r tion of the driving pinion H entails more than one complete revolution of the toothed wheels 9.

For checking the developing process it suffices to remove the cover 4 together with the turning button I3. Then, in the manner known, any film spool may be easilyremoved, checked and reinserted. Films whose development is completed may at any moment he removed from the box. independently of the others, and other films may. be inserted'in their 'place. This warrants a considerable saving of time and material.

In conformity to Fig. 3 the toothed wheels 9 are arranged on the upper flanges of the developer spools so that the driving shaft In need not be continued down to the bottom of the box. On the contrary, it-is formed into a short stub shaft, axially and shiftably journaled in the cover. By lowering or lifting the turning button 13 the driving pinion ll arranged on the bottom end of the stub shaft I is made to engage the toothed Wheels 9, or to be disengaged from same.

Fig. dshows anrembodiment in which, for saving material, also the outer contour of the casing presents the shape of a trefoil.

It is perceptible from Fig. 5 that the stub axle 2 need not be made .inone with the box; but may also be inserted into same ulteriorly. For this purpose each stub axle 2 terminates downwards in a threaded bolt l5. The bottom of the casing is perforated sothat the bolt l5 may be passed through same and then be firmly clamped by means of a screwed-on nut K6, the packing I1 providing a reliable seal against the passage of liquids.

The embodiment according to theFigs. 6 and '7 replaces the central turning button by a turning button [3 eccentrically located so that its axis coincides with that of one of the spools which entails a modification of several individual parts; In this embodiment the cover 4-above one of the spools-is provided with a pan l8 serving for introducing the developing liquid, saidpan being perforated in the middle and being continued into a bearing sleeve l9 protruding downwards, in which the stub axle 20 of the on its lower end-but one stub axle 2i journals-d in the bottom of the casing 22. The two other spools are arranged in the same manner as those according to'Fig's'. 1 and 2, themiddle gear wheel "23 being secured against displacement upwards by the lower flanges offthe spools;

Instead of three spools a greater number may be lodged in one casing, all these spools being rotated by means of a joint drive. In this case too the cross-section of the casing is designed so that not more developer liquid is consumed than is absolutely necessary, the' shapesv resulting being e. g. those of a four or five leaved clover or trefoil.

By using intermediate bands, provided with wart-like projections and the like, it is possible as already known-to coil on one and the same developer spooltwo or more film strips or hands so as to further enhance the efiiciency of the implement according to the invention.

If the inner'wall of the casing snugly nestles to the spool carrier flanges and embraces an angle ofmorethan degrees, the stub axles serving for hearing the spools can be entirely dispensed with, the flanges themselves serving as guides.

The coupling of the turning button withthe driving shaft appertaining may be also effected by means different from groove and rib, without exceeding the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination,a film developingbox adapted to be filled with developing liquid and having side walls, a bottom defining a lower inner surface and a removable cover defining an upper innor surface. a first gear wheel rotatably mounted interiorly of said box adjacent one of said inner surfaces and centrally thereof, a plurality of flanged individually-removable film spools having' hollow shafts disposed at right angles to said bottom and flanges lying in planes substantially parallel to said'bot'to'm, said spoolsbeing rotatably supportedin said box between said bottom and said cover in a circle around saidv first gear wheel, one end of each of said spools bein PI vided with a fixed gear wheel inmeshing engagement with saidfirst gear wheel, said spools being arranged. in said circle in such manner that the gear wheelsof all of said spools are in simultaneous engagement with said first gear wheel, said box further comprising turning means rotatably mounted in said cover and extending interiorly of said: box for rotating one of said gear wheels whereby to rotate all of said spools simultaneously. f r v 2. In combination,afilm developing box adaptedto be filled with developing liquid and having side walls, abottom-defining a lower inner. surface: andaremovable cover defining an upper inner surface, a-first gear-wheel rotatably mountied interiorly of said box adjacent said lower inner surface and centrally thereof, a plurality of flanged individually-removable film spools having hollowshaftsdisposed at right angles to said bottom and flanges lying in planes substantially parallel to. said bottom, said spools being rotatably supported insaid box between said bottom and said cover in a circle around said first gear wheel, thelower end 'of' each of said'spools being provided with a fixed gear Wheel in meshingengagementwith said first gear wheel, said spools being arranged-in said circle in such manner that the-gear. wheels of allv ofv said spools are in simultaneous engagement with said first gear Wheel, said box further comprising turning. meansv r0.- tatably mounted in said cover and extending in.- teriorly of said box for driving engagement with one of said spools to rotatesaidspool and thereby to-rotate all-of said spools simultaneously.

3. In combination, a film developing box adapt.- edstoberfilled with:developing liquidand having side walls, a bottom defining a lower inner surface and a removabe cover defining an upper inner surface, a first gear wheel rotatably mounted interiorly of said box adjacent upper inner surface and centrally thereof, a plurality of flanged individually removable film spools having hollow shafts disposed at right angles to said bottom and flanges lying in planes substantially parallel to said bottom, said spools being rotatably supported in said box between said bottom and said cover in a circle around said first gear wheel, the upper end of each of said spools being provided with a fixed gear wheel in meshing engagement with said first gear wheel, said spools being arranged in said circle in such manner that the gear wheels of all of said spools are in simultanee ous engagement with said first gear wheel, said box further comprising turning means rotatably mounted in said cover and extending interiorly of said box and being connected to said first gear wheel for rotating said first gear wheel whereby to rotate all of said spools simultaneously.

4. In combination, a film developing box adapted to be filled with developing liquid and having side walls, a bottom defining a lower inner surface and a removable cover defining an upper inner surface, a first gear wheel rotatably mounted interiorly of said box adjacent one of said inner surfaces and centrally thereof, a plurality of flanged individually-removable film spools having hollow shafts disposed at right angles to said bottom and flanges lying in planes substantially parallel to said bottom, said spools being rotatably supported in said box between said bottom and said cover in a circle around said first gear wheel,

one end of each of said spools being provided with a fixed gear wheel in meshing engagement with said first gear wheel, said spools being arranged in said circle in such manner that the gear wheels of all of said spools are in simultaneous engagement with said first gear wheel, said box further comprising turning means rotatably mounted in said cover and extending interiorly of said box for rotating one of said gear wheels whereby to rotate all of said spools simultaneously, and the inner surfaces of the said side walls being formed to surround a substantial portion of the circumference of said flanges, whereby the internal cross-sectional area of the box is largely defined by the surfaces of said flanges and a minimum quantity of developing liquid may be used to maintain said box filled with the liquid with the said spools immersed therein.

HELMUTH VON STWOLINSKI, RECTE M'ULLER-STWOLINSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,277,665 Thimble Sept. 3, 1918 2,168,846 Parker Aug. 8, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 163,577 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1933 641,858 Germany Feb. 16, 1937 646,741 Germany June 22, 1937 165,653 Austria Apr. 11, 1950 

